Bathing sandal



H. M. DODGE Sept. 21, 1937.

- BATHING SANDAL Filed April 29, 1935 Patented Sept. 21, 1937 wane Pros

BATHIN G SANDAL Howard M. Dodge, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The B. F.Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationApril 29,

Claims.

This invention relates to bathing sandals and the like.

Heretofore bathing shoes commonly have been constructed of softvulcanized rubber which en- 5 closed the entire foot. While it has beenrecognized that such material would be advantageous in the constructionof bathing sandals, the inherent flexibility of the material has usuallyprevented the material being used alone, especially for the sole of thedevice.

Another difliculty encountered is that the sandal easily slips off atthe heel when there is lack of tension at the upper edge of the heelportion.

The principal objects of the present invention are to overcome thesedifficulties, to provide simplicity of structure, to reduce the cost ofmanufacture, and to provide security, neatness, and improved appearance.

Other objects will appear from the following description and theaccompanying drawing.

Of the drawing.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional elevation of the sandal and themold for forming it.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sandal as taken from the mold, thesandal being shown in its preferred form.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the finished sandal in its preferredform.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View taken on line 55 of Fig. 4, showingthe fastener.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the sandal in plan View, in dotand dash lines, and showing in full line, the principal line of tension.

Referring to the drawing, the sandal is molded in one piece, of soft,vulcanizable rubber material, and comprises a sole ID, a heel II, acounter l2, a pair of straps l3, l4, extending forwardly from the top ofthe counter, and merging with a pair of side straps l5, l6, and a pairof toe straps l1, H3. The toe straps l1, l8 are joined to the sole nearits tip and the side straps I5, [6 are spaced rearwardly therefrom andalso joined to the sole. The free ends of the toe strap I! and an elbowl9 formed at the junction of side strap IS with counter strap l3 arepivotally joined by a snap fastener element 2|, and the free end of toestrap I8 and a similar elbow 20 are pivotally joined by a matingfastener element 22, the arrangement being such that when the fastenerelements 2|, 22 are engaged with each other, the strap elements are alljoined pivotally at a point above the ball of the foot, and the strap I1is 1935, Serial No. 18,797

in such substantial alignment with strap I 4, and strap l8 in suchsubstantial alignment with strap I3, that any force tending to causedownward flexing of the toe portion of the sole is resisted by tensionof the toe and heel straps longitudinally 5 thereof and tends to holdthe straps I3, l4 laterally against the foot, and the counter portion inconforming relation to the heel of the wearer. Referring to Fig. 6, theprincipal line of tension is represented by the heavy full line 23 which1 crosses itself at the pivotal fastener elements. The location of thestraps l1, l8 slightly to the rear of the tip of the sole, tends alsolaterally to concave the sole toward the wearers foot. This lateralcurvature of the sole additionally resists 15 longitudinal flexing ofthe sole forwardly of the straps.

The fastener elements permit opening of the sandal to admit the foot andthereby permit closer fitting when secured, insuring neat conformity of20 the upper edges of the straps to the foot at all points.

The construction of the sandal is such that'in the unfastened positionsthe straps l5, l6, H,

I8 extend in diverging relation to the sole 25 whereas the counter 12extends obliquely forward therefrom. This permits molding of the articlein a single piece without the use of complicated mjolds. In molding thearticle, a mold comprising a female member 24 and a male member 25 isemployed, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. By forming the mold memberswith the sole inclined to the horizontal, the proper curvature of thecounter l2 may be accomplished without back draft of the core,permitting ready with- 35 drawal of the article and the supporting corefrom the mold.

I claim:

1. A sandal comprising a rubber sole and a pliable elastic uppercomprising a counter portion 40 extending from the heel only to the ballof the foot with its forward extremities normally ununited, a pair oftoe straps forwardly spaced therefrom, and a single snap fastener setadapted to pivotally unite said toe straps and the forward extremitiesof the counter portion over the ball of the foot with each toe strapinsubstantial alignment with the forward extremity of an oppositecounter portion.

2. A sandal comprising a rubber sole and a 50 pliable elastic upperhaving a counter extending from the heel only to the ball of the foot, apair of toe straps forwardly spaced therefrom, and fastener meansadapted pivotally to unite said toe straps and the forward portions ofthe counter the side straps, and fastener means for attaching togethersaid elbows and toe straps.

' 4. A sandal as defined in claim 3 in which each toe strap of thefastened sandals is in substantial alignment with a forwardly extendingstrap at the opposite side of the sandal.

5. A sandal comprising a sole of pliable material, a quarter extendingfrom the heel to the ball of the foot, means forwardly of the quarterfor partially enclosing the toes, and a single fastener set forpivotally attaching the forward portion of the quarter and thetoe-enclosing means 10 over the ball of the foot.

HOWARD M. DODGE.

